The federal government says it plans to develop a high-speed rail line linking Lagos to Maiduguri, with trains expected to run at up to 360 kilometres per hour
Olufunso Adebiyi, permanent secretary at the ministry of transportation, spoke on Monday at the opening of the 19th national council on transportation in Abuja.
The four-day event was themed, ‘Developing an Effective Transport System for Nigeria: The Role of Integrated Transportation’.
“Light rail projects have also been approved for Lagos and Kano with plans to extend similar systems to other state capitals,” he said.
Adebiyi said the proposed rail line is part of the government’s efforts to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on roads by developing rail, maritime, and air transportation.
He said the railway sector is undergoing a “rebirth”, with several corridors already completed and operational.
Adebiyi listed the Port Harcourt-Aba, Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan, and Abuja-Kaduna corridors among the completed routes.
He said work is also progressing on other rail lines across the country.
“The Kaduna–Zaria–Kano line is nearing completion and should open by December. The Kaduna–Daura–Katsina line is progressing, the Katsina–Jibia–Maradi link is targeted for next year, and work continues on Kano–Dutse,” he said.
The permanent secretary said the government is also promoting rail freight to reduce the number of heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads.
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